Latest from Android Central

Planning for CES 2021 is underway.What you need to knowCES 2021 is slated to go ahead as usual in Las Vegas next year.Despite several high-profile tech conferences being canceled this year, CES is scheduled to be an in-person event.The tech showcase's organizers are emphasizing their focus on everyone's safety as they begin preparing for what is often dubbed the largest tech trade show of the year.As the pandemic rages on, and even as the U.S. passed the grim 100,000 fatalies mark just last week, states across the country are already drawing up plans for reopening the economy. That means that not only may your local Starbucks resume operation soon but also that the massive trade shows that are a hallmark of the tech world, and which we saw very few of this year, are also set to return with a vengeance.Case in point, the Consumer Technology Association has already announced its plans for preparing to hold CES 2021 at its usual home in Las Vegas in early January of next yea...

Google Fit is one of the best apps for tracking all kinds of fitness data, from the food you eat to the calories you burn to your progress over time. While it's not hard to manually enter your weight and other data in Google Fit, there are some accessories to make the whole process even easier.Best fitness smartwatchMobvoi TicWatch ProStaff pickThe TicWatch Pro is a genuinely good watch even if you don't care about fitness tracking. If you do, it's even better. There's a GPS sensor to better track your jogs, a heart-rate monitor for keeping your beats in check, and NFC so you can leave your phone at home and still use Google Pay.$200 at AmazonTipping the scaleseufy BodySense Smart Scale P1You can manually enter your weight into Google Fit, but this scale can do it for you. It also calculates more than weight. It can estimate your body fat and water percentages, as well as your muscle mass and various other measurement types. Since getting all that data is as...

She's not just a girl, she's a threat.What you need to knowPlayStation has released a new commercial for The Last of Us Part II.The commercial provides an overview of some of the horrors Ellie will face out in the world.The Last of Us Part II is scheduled to release on June 19, 2020.Years after being announced, The Last of Us Part II is just a short couple of weeks away. PlayStation has shared a new commercial for the game ahead of its imminent release. While the trailer is CGI, it nonetheless provides a great overview of the world and themes that players can expect. You can take a look at the commercial below.The Last of Us Part II follows Ellie seeking vengeance, no matter the costs. Just what is at stake and why is she on the warpath? That's part of the mystery surrounding the story. There's also new gameplay improvements, such as Ellie's ability to swim.For more on The Last of Us Part II, you can check out the recent State of Play right here, which highlighted n...

There may be a hundred reasons why you don't want your previously published Tweets visible to the world. Whether you were raging against real-life injustices or spouting off on silly reality TV, you may not want those quips associated with you for the long haul. While you've always been able to delete individual Tweets, Twitter itself does not allow you to delete Tweets in bulk. That hasn't stopped enterprising third-party apps and services from springing up that promise to help you do just that. Here are some that we recommend looking into. Just make sure you are comfortable with how they handle the deletion of your Tweets.Products used in this guideWipe it all out: TweetDelete ($10 at TweetDelete)Automatic bulk deletion: Jumbo (Free at Google Play)What are the differences between these apps?Twitter does not allow users to delete their entire history, nor does it allow them to delete Tweets en masse. There are several apps like Jumbo Privacy that can securely delete and a...

ARM's Cortex-X program could mean phone makers have a lot of room for bigger and better things.We don't have a lot of details about ARM's Cortex-X program, where ARM will work with companies that build processors to customize them from the ground up, outside of some press materials and datasheets from ARM itself. We do know that we should expect to see the first of (hopefully) many chips using a custom Cortex-X core soon with the ARM Cortex-X1, which is basically a chip using Cortex-A cores and one of them has its governor removed so it can run free.That's what the Cortex-X program is all about. It's a way for companies who want to sacrifice some room on a silicon wafer and a bit of battery life in exchange for raw power to do so without spending millions to design it themselves. The idea isn't exactly new, and companies that already design custom ARM-licensed chips have been doing this for a while. That gives us a great view of what to expect: even more of the big leaps we see f...

Samsung may launch three Galaxy Note 20 series phones at its online-only Unpacked event in August.What you need to knowThe Bluetooth Special Interest Group has certified an upcoming Samsung smartphone with the name "Galaxy Note 20 Ultra."The certification contradicts a previous rumor that claimed Samsung isn't going to release a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Note 20 series in August.A rumor had suggested last month that Samsung may not release an "Ultra" version of the Galaxy Note 20. Surprisingly, however, a piece of evidence hinting at the existence of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has now surfaced.As spotted by MySmartPrice, the "Galaxy Note 20 Ultra" has been certified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), The certification suggests Samsung will be releasing a total of three Galaxy Note 20 models this year. However, the Note 20 Ultra has been listed with the model number SM-N986U, which was previously associated with the Note 20 Pl...

Need some more space for your movies and music? Time to stop by Staples and get yourself the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB USB 3.0 hard drive for just $52.49. Use the code 64386 during checkout. It takes $15 off any order over $60, and the Seagate drive is just over $60 at $67.49. The deal works on both Black and Blue but other colors are sold out or much more expensive. This price drop is the second lowest we have seen since last year's Black Friday sales.You'll find the Backup Plus Slim going for $67 at most retailers like B&H, and the next best price anywhere right now is around $65 on Amazon. Get free shipping and enjoy all your new room for storage.The Seagate Backup Plus Slim is historically one of the best external hard drives around. It has always been a top contender even though it has been around for a while. It's sleek, lightweight, and has a large capacity for its size. It's extremely portable and designed to be slipped into any pack on your way out the door. Use i...

The elaborate buyer's guide and advice column for PlayStation 4Not only is the PlayStation 4 a capable competitor on the market by itself, but the list of incredible games available for it is unrivaled. Some of us have been PlayStation fans from day one and some of us are only recently joining the family. Now that you have a PlayStation 4 you want to make sure you have all the best games, gears, and accessories.With the PlayStation 5 on its way and set for a holiday 2020 release, the PS4 is nearing the end of its life cycle. But that also means a lot of you will finally be upgrading to the PlayStation 4 once it drops in price.In this article, we are going to document all of the best products you can match to your PlayStation 4, how they improve your overall experience, and where you can buy them. Don't stress yourself looking for all the answers online. We've found them all and put them all in one spot for you to easily access.PlayStation 4: The complete troubleshooting guide...

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many people have spent the last two months at home, potentially wondering what to do with their points and miles. We believe that most of us should be earning and saving points and miles for when we can travel again (because that day will come), but we know everyone's situation is different.You may want to cash in some rewards for essential household expenses while budgets are tighter than usual. That's the great thing about flexible points — you have options. Many rewards programs offer non-travel redemptions that are both practical and a decent value for your points.Here are some ways to make the most of your points while we're not traveling.Keep an ...

Most people are perfectly fine with the default keyboard that came with their phones and have never felt compelled to change it. Come to think of it, most people probably don't even realize that you can change from the default keyboard. If this is news to you, and if you're curious about what other options are out there and how you can change the default keyboard on your OnePlus phone, then read on my good friend!Products used in this guidePhone used: OnePlus 8 ($699 at Amazon)Our favorite keyboard: Google Gboard (Free at Google Play Store) An outstanding original: Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard (Free at Google Play Store)No more typos: Grammarly Keyboard (Free at Google Play Store)Why should you change your default keyboard?Great question! Honestly, you may never feel the need to do so, but third-party keyboards bring additional features and capabilities that your stock keyboard may be lacking. The Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard syncs your typing across devices, and is excell...

The TP-Link Deco M5 whole home mesh networking system comes in a three-pack on sale for $151.99. This is right around the lowest price we've seen this year on the whole home Wi-Fi system. The Deco M5 sells for around $170 regularly and you can still find it going for that price at other places like Amazon. The B&H deal is limited to just one set per customer, and the shipping may be delayed by a couple of days. Other than that though, this is a great deal if you're looking for a way to get Wi-Fi throughout your home.The Deco M5 replaces your Wi-Fi router and any other devices you've been using to make up for dead zones like range extenders. A mesh networking system like this is so much better than a range extender, too, because it offers you a seamless wireless experience. You won't even notice when your mobile device is switching from one node to the next as you move through your home.The three pieces of the system can cover up to 5,500 square feet of home and keep up to 100...

You may know Namecheap as a domain registrar but it also has its own VPN service. To help people try it out for less, it's currently offering its service at an 83% discount for a limited time, dropping the twelve months of access to just $12. That makes it just $1 per month, compared to the usual $5.88 monthly cost, so you're saving almost $5 every month. It will renew at $34.56 per year thereafter which is still a cheap VPN, though you can cancel at any time.Alternatively, you can try out Namecheap VPN for a month for free and see if it is for you. It will renew at the regular monthly rate of $5.88 after your free trial. That's one of the best VPN deals on offer right now.You may or may not have considered using a VPN before but, in our increasingly connected world, it's a good idea to have one installed. So much of what we do every day is now online — from shopping to paying bills, signing up for credit cards, or just browsing, and that data can be at risk if you're not using...

Father's Day is fast approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the fatherly figure in your life. If you're stumped for gift ideas, but know your dad loves to tool around with new technology, maybe one of these great tech gifts will help inspire you! As a bonus, each of these great gifts runs under $100. So, whether you're scraping together some cash or going in on a group gift with your siblings, you won't have to dig into too many couch cushions to get dad what he deserves.Keep all his favorite tech chargedAnker PowerCore 20000mAh Power BankStaff pickIf you've ever heard your dad complain about his phone battery dying too soon, this is the perfect gift. This Anker battery pack has a 20,000mAh battery, which is an excellent option capable of charging multiple phones on a single charge. Featuring two USB ports that use PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies and Anker's MultiProtect safety system, you can be confident that your devices wil...

The lawsuit claims Google's unauthorized tracking violates the federal wiretap laws.What you need to knowGoogle has been slapped with a $5 billion lawsuit in the U.S. for "illegally" tracking users in Incognito mode.Google apparently uses tools such as Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager, website plug-ins, and smartphone apps to gather data, regardless of whether users click on Google-supported ads.The complaint claims "millions" of users who browsed the internet in Incognito mode since June 1, 2016 may have been affected. Google has been hit with a $5 billion lawsuit over "illegally" tracking millions of users, despite them using Incognito mode. The class action lawsuit seeks $5,000 in damages per user for violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws.The complaint, which was filed in the federal court in San Jose, California on Tuesday, says Google collects data from users regardless of whether they clock on Google-supported ads, with the help of tools s...

Newegg has a full year of PlayStation Plus available for $41.99. Twelve months of PS Plus would normally cost you $60, and it usually doesn't go on sale directly. You have to find the deals through retailers like Newegg if you find them at all. The sale today is part of Newegg's Shell Shocker daily deals, so don't expect it to stick around for very long. Amazon has matched Newegg's price, too, so you can get it from them. The membership is delivered via a digital code so you won't have to wait long to start playing online.The obvious primary benefit of having a PlayStation Plus membership is the ability to play multiplayer titles. You'll finally be able to battle your way to the top in multiplayer games like Call of Duty Warzone or Fortnite. If fighting against strangers isn't your idea of a good time, you can always play co-operative titles with your friends. Play through a massive roleplaying game like Divinity: Original Sins II together or build a base in Minecraft. Get indirect...

Best answer: Almost any unlocked phone will work on Fi, but phones that weren't specifically designed for Fi may miss out on certain features like Google's VPN and network switching.Unlocked with pure Android and full Fi compatibility: Google Pixel 3a ($350 at Amazon)Flexible plans on nearly any phone: Google Fi (From $20 per month at Google Fi)What phones are designed for Fi?When Google Fi initially launched under the name Project Fi back in 2015, it was only available for the Nexus 6. Google Fi has continued to add its own phones, including the Nexus 5X, 6P, and all Pixel devices. Even Google phones purchased from carriers are fully compatible with Google Fi. Of course, they will need to be unlocked.These phones are all designed for Fi, which means they will work with Google Fi's VPN as well as automatic switching between Google Fi's three networks. These phones can also connect to over two million approved hotspots to save on data and improve speed. Designed for Fi ph...

Having a chat with the AC forums.As hard as it is to believe, it's now been about three months since the Galaxy S20 was released. The initial hype and craze for the phone has obviously died down, but there's no denying that it's still one of the very best Android handsets you can buy in 2020.If there's one aspect of a phone that needs long-term use to fully analyze, it's battery life. The battery of any phone is prone to aging and degrading as time goes on, making it one of those things that's worth checking up on every now and then.Some of our AC forum members recently got into a conversation about how their S20 battery life is holding up, with a lot of them talking about their average battery drain per hour. monty Stinson 05-28-2020 09:09 AM “ Idle time at night from 10:30 pm to 6:30 am, go from 99-100% to 93-95% on an average night. S20 Ultra Reply ...

The Oculus Quest has built-in sensors that can make any area into a VR space. Oculus' Guardian system lets you set up a boundary in any room or area that you'd like, and the device sets up a virtual grid to ensure that you stay in your secure area. But if you drew an area wrong, made changes to the area, or are setting up your Oculus Quest in a new space, you'll need to set or reset your boundaries. Fortunately, Oculus made this incredibly easy.Products used in this guideWireless VR fun: Oculus Quest ($399 at Amazon)How to set up a roomscale boundaryOne of the Oculus Quest's best features is that you can map out a room, and the headset can remember the boundaries. This is referred to as "roomscale" and is the ideal setup for most VR games. You draw a map of the boundaries, making a border that can be bent around items like house plants and sofas. The Oculus Quest then creates a virtual grid that turns red if you get too close. If you pop your head out of the roomscale bound...

Trying to find the best VPN can be a struggle on its own, but when you then mix in trying to find the best deal on a VPN you find yourself down a whole new rabbit hole. You've probably heard a lot about VPNs recently and are already aware of the reasons that you need one, but now you need to find the best price, right? We've looked through hundreds of VPN deals that are out there to bring you only the top options that are actually worth considering.Best VPN Deals Right NowExpressVPN: $6.67 per month (49% off)NordVPN: $3.49 per month (70% off)IPVanish: $6.49 per month (46% off)PureVPN: $0.99 for 7 day trialPIA VPN: $2.85 per month (71%)Surfshark: $1.99 per month (83% off)FastestVPN: $20 lifetime membershipMore Deals: Tunnelbear, Cyberghost & moreOdds are that you know what a VPN is but may not have signed up for one already. There are some common misconceptions about VPNs, especially that they are quite expensive, but that doesn't have to be the case — especiall...

I've been on many a trip where I didn't have a good cell signal or Wi-Fi, and really needed to know where I was going. Thank goodness that Google Maps allows you to download maps of broad areas for offline use. You can also have them update with the latest information when you are back online. This little tip is also handy if you're in an area with congested cell signals, risk of low or no signals, or if you don't want to be tracked. I'll show you how it's done so that you can always be prepared with an exit strategy.How to download offline Google Maps to your phoneFirst thing's first: if you regularly keep on Incognito mode as I do, you're going to want to disable it (temporarily).Tap on the hat and glasses icon in the top right corner of the app.Tap on Offline maps settings.Tap on Turn off Incognito.Now you're ready to download offline maps to your phone. If you don't use Incognito mode, you can ignore all of that and continue on with the steps below.From the Googl...

Unlike its predecessor, the Note 20+ may not have a 3D ToF sensor.What you need to knowThe Galaxy Note 20+ is tipped to have a 13MP periscope camera with 50x zoom.Samsung's upcoming flagship is also rumored to have a 108MP ISOCELL Bright HM1 primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle shooter.The Galaxy Note 20 series is expected to be unveiled at an online-only Unpacked event in August.Popular tipster Ice Universe had claimed last month that the Samsung Galaxy Note 20+ will not have the Galaxy S20 Ultra's 100X "Space Zoom" feature. Ice Universe has now shared some more details regarding the camera hardware of the Galaxy Note 20+, claiming the upcoming flagship will only feature three cameras on the back.As per the tipster's latest post on Weibo, the Galaxy Note 20+ will have a 108MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright HM1 primary sensor, just like the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It will also feature a similar 12MP ISOCELL Fast 2L3 ultra-wide-angle camera. The sensor behind the periscope lens, ...

As soon as I can leave the house with regularity, this green backpack is coming with me.It's not often that we do in-depth backpack reviews on this site, but when we do, they tend to be pretty special bags. We've featured dozens of great backpacks in our various roundups and reviewed many environmentally sustainable products, but this is the first time that I can remember an accessory that bridges both of those areas so well.The Lenovo Eco Pro Backpack was launched this past Earth Day 2020, but unfortunately, we just missed out on adding it to our extensive Earth Day coverage. The pack seemed like too good of a proposition not to cover, though, so the first chance I had, I jumped at the opportunity to get my hands on one and try it out for myself. What follows are my initial thoughts on the backpack after spending a few (admittedly) homebound weeks with it.A reliable, responsible rucksackLenovo Eco Pro Backpack ...

What you need to knowAmazon's Summer Sale could happen on June 22 according to new report.It could last from seven to ten days.Amazon hopes to drive customer engagement and jump-start sales with the event.This isn't the first time we've heard of a new Amazon Summer Sale that's rumored to take place this year, and it's likely not the last either. The team at CNBC has posted some new information that indicates that the Amazon Summer Sale is set to kick off on June 22 and could run as long as seven to ten days. Amazon has reportedly sent out an email to sellers informing them of this "Fashion Summer Sale", though the email does indicate that this event will be "by invitation only", meaning it may not be quite as big as Amazon's annual Prime Day event usually is.CNBC was able to review one of the emails that was sent out, part of which read: "We are having the Biggest Summer Sale event to drive excitement and jump-start sales. To drive customer engagement, we are asking for...

Worried about your privacy? You can easily find all the apps that are sharing your location on an Android phone, and disable access so they won't be able to broadcast your location anymore. Here's what you need to know, and what you can do to ensure apps don't use location data in the background.Products used in this guideAll the basics: OnePlus 7T ($499 at OnePlus)How to find apps that are sharing your location on AndroidApps like Google Maps, Uber, and Lyft won't work without location access, but you can enable access just before you use these services. Then there are services like Instagram and Facebook that access your location to provide details of nearby points of interest. If you need to provide an app with your location details, you can always enable it just before you use a service like Uber or Lyft.Here's how you can see all the apps that are sharing your location:Open Settings from the home screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Select Location....

Location data can be very useful in documenting where you took your vacation photos or pictures for proof of things like a traffic accident, but if you leave location data on all the time, it can be used against you if someone you don't trust gets ahold of your stuff. In order to protect yourself and those around you, here's how to strip out location info from photos you've taken — and more importantly, how to keep it from getting added to your photos in the first place!How to turn off location data in the Camera appOpen the Camera app on your phone.Tap the Settings option on the viewfinder. For Samsung phones, the settings gear is in the top left corner. For Google Pixel phones, you'll need to tap the downward-facing arrow at the top of the screen, then tap the settings gear in the menu that appears.Turn off the Location toggle in the setting menu. On Samsung phones, Location is near the bottom, but it's the first setting in Google Camera advanced menu.Turning off lo...

It's easy to blame developers, blame Google, or blame the company that made your phone, but it's a case of one versus many that's the root cause.A lot of people love apps like Snapchat and Instagram. A lot of those same people hate Snapchat or Instagram when they check out the quality of photos and video the apps upload. And most of them are using an Android phone.It can be pretty frustrating when you see just how good the camera on your phone is compared to the quality your friends and followers see when you upload a video, but know that you or your phone probably aren't to blame. It's just a case where there isn't enough development time to make everything perfect.Software development is hardThere are a lot of people working on super-popular apps like Instagram and Snapchat. When your app does so many things, like capture video, play video, upload video, and then do all the social interaction "stuff," you need plenty of talented people developing it. It's the case of ...

The AT&T and T-Mobile versions received the Android 10 update last month.What you need to knowVerizon is now pushing the stable Android 10 update for the LG V40 ThinQ.Along with all the Android 10 features like the new gesture navigation system, the update brings the April 2020 security patch as well.The V40 ThinQ was launched in October 2018 with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.AT&T began pushing the Android 10 update to the LG V40 ThinQ last month. Shortly after the AT&T version started receiving the update, T-Mobile too began upgrading its V40 ThinQ to Android 10. Following AT&T and T-Mobile, Verizon has now started rolling out the Android 10 update for LG's 2018 flagship (via DroidLife).The Android 10 update for the Verizon LG V40 ThinQ arrives as version V405UA30a and comes with several new features, including a system-wide dark mode and support for gesture navigation. It also brings LG's UX 9.0, an updated Camera app with a dedicated Video mode, impr...

While it might not be the latest Fire tablet, the 7th-generation Fire HD 10 is available as low as $69.99 refurbished at Woot for a limited time. What's even better is that you can even bundle it with Amazon's first-party Kids Edition case or Show Mode Charging Dock for just $1 more. Getting a 10-inch tablet and a case or dock from just $71 total is a steal, especially when you consider that a certified refurb Fire HD 10 tablet goes for $110 and the Show Mode dock is $55.This 7th-generation, 2017 model of the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is equipped with a 10.1-inch 1080p HD display that will have no trouble screening shows and movies from Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and other streaming services. Its quad-core processor and 2GB RAM will help too, while its internal battery can keep it powered on for up to ten hours on a single charge.These tablets are also packed with stereo speakers featuring Dolby Audio, and Alexa hands-free mode that allows you to pause videos, open apps, play mus...

Oculus Guardian tracking follows your movements and allows you move around in games, but there are times that you'd want to turn it off. Guardian tracking requires light, so if it's running you can't use your headset in the dark. It also doesn't work well when people are lying down or in finite spaces such as cars or airplanes. Oculus added the ability for the Oculus Quest to detect objects) in the way in Oculus Software version 17, but there are still times it's better to just turn it off. Luckily, users can turn Oculus Guardian tracking off if their headset is running version 9.0 or later.What is Guardian tracking?Oculus Guardian is what allows you to move around in VR. It's especially important for games like SUPERHOT VR and Robo Recall: Unplugged. It gives you six degrees of freedom in VR, allowing games and apps to track you moving forward, backward, left, right, up, and down. It's an incredible feat of engineering and makes the Oculus Quest a wonderful headset.However, Gu...

I find that people are often surprised at just how flexible Chromebooks are as work or entertainment devices. Many of the same features that more established or expensive computers like Windows PCs and MacBooks have can also be found on Chromebooks, such as screen casting, virtual desktops, and split-screen multitasking. I'll show you just how easy it is to enable split screens on your Chromebook so that even a modest-sized device like my little ASUS C214 Flip can be a productivity powerhouse.How to multitask with split screens on a ChromebookOpen a browser window on your Chromebook.Open a second tab in that window.Click on one of the tabs, and drag it apart from the first, or simply open a second window.Click and hold on the box icon in the top right of one of the windows.When you see two arrows appear, one on either side of the box, click on one to arrange that window on that side.Repeat this for the other window/tab, but click the arrow on the opposite side so that eac...

The app was found to violate the Play Store's Deceptive Behavior Policy.What you need to knowRemove China Apps, which was the top trending app in India recently, has been removed from the Play Store.Since late May, the app was downloaded over 5 million times in the country. The app allowed users to delete all apps developed by Chinese companies from their phones. An app called Remove China Apps went viral in India last month, amid growing anti-China sentiments in the country. It crossed the 1 million downloads milestone within just ten days of its debut on the Play Store. It was also the top trending app on the Play Store in India for two days. The app has now been removed by Google for violating the Play Store's Deceptive Behavior Policy (via TechCrunch).The policy states that an app listed on the Play Store is not allowed to make any changes to the user's device settings or features outside of the app without the user's consent, and nor can it encourage users to remove ...

The Nest Hub codes, though, don't seem to be working.What you need to knowGoogle is sending out promotional emails to Nest Aware subscribers.These offer either a free Nest Hub or a Nest Mini to those who've upgraded their plan to the company's newest subscriptions.Unfortunately, some users are reporting that their codes aren't working.Finally rolled out earlier this month, the new Nest Aware subscriptions make things a lot easier (and less expensive) if you have multiple Nest devices around the house. Helping you take advantage of that all-you-can-eat buffet, Google is even sending out emails to those who've upgraded to the new subscriptions with an offer for either a free Nest Hub or Nest Mini.The offer is available till August, though you will also need to be living in the U.S. to avail of it.Unfortunately, as our friends at 9to5Google report, many (if not all) of the Nest Hub coupons are not working. Our own Phil Nickinson received one such email (to the right), al...

A land of epic sagas and myths awaits in this new world from Ubisoft.First revealed at E3 2019, Gods & Monsters is a new IP being developed by Ubisoft Quebec. Eschewing the real world setting of the Assassin's Creed games the studio has previously worked on, Gods & Monsters is set in a beautiful world where the Greek myths are true. Here's everything we know about Gods & Monsters.What is Gods & Monsters?Gods & Monsters gameplay and featuresIs Gods & Monsters open world?Will Gods & Monsters be enhanced for PlayStation 5?Gods & Monsters release dateMyths come aliveGods & Monsters$60 at Amazon$60 at Best BuyExplore a world of monstersGods & Monsters promises an open world of mythic islands to explore, with gods to save, monsters to vanquish and ancient powers to learn. We can't wait to try it out for ourselves and become a legendary hero.What is Gods & Monsters ?Gods & Monsters is an action-adventure game s...

Samsung has supersized the Galaxy experience with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and with that big beautiful 6.9-inch screen comes a larger and heavier phone than even last year's Galaxy Note 10+. While I can understand not wanting to bulk up your S20 Ultra, a case is not optional on a phone this big; you need a protective case to add grip to that big glass back and add some cushions or shock-absorbing bumpers to the corners. From clear and thin to big and functional, these are the best cases to buy your new flagship.Clear but sturdyRingke Fusion XStaff pick$12 at Amazon$13 at WalmartWant to show off your S20 Ultra's glass-backed beauty while still protecting it from scratches, slips, and the oh-so-dreaded shatter? This case gives you robust bumper and corner protection and a crystal clear back.Plant-based protectionTech21 Studio Colour$30 at Tech21$30 at AmazonThis ultra-thin case sports both 8-foot drop protection and anti-microbial properties while being made wi...

The developers behind Bulletstorm are back with a new IP.From the publishing team of Square Enix and the studio People Can Fly comes a new game, Outriders. It's listed as a "drop-in-drop-out co-op shooter set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe" that can support up to three players. We haven't been give a lot of information about this game just yet, but here is what we know so far.What is Outriders?It takes place on a dark alien world and features co-opWill there be microtransactions?How does the multiplayer work?It is expected to release Holiday 2020Alien planetOutriders$60 at AmazonFollow the signalBecome an Outrider and follow a mysterious signal across the alien planet of Enoch, full of hellish threats waiting around every corner. Outriders features drop-in, drop-out co-op for up to three players so you can have a couple of friends at your side.What is Outriders?As stated by the Co-Heads of Studio, Square Enix External Studios, Jon Bro...

Smartphones can do just about anything these days — did you know they can even make phone calls? You've probably gotten your fair share of spam calls in the last few years, and many carriers are actively working to prevent spam and "robocalls" from happening, but some people don't want to receive calls at all. Whether you use VoIP services, carry a work phone that only needs access to data, or you prefer texting over calling, here's how you can quickly disable all incoming calls from ringing your phone.Phone used in this guideThe best camera: Google Pixel 4 ($628 at Amazon)Get familiar with Do Not Disturb modeDo Not Disturb has been available since the release of Android Marshmallow way back in 2015. This feature makes it so you can either temporarily (or permanently) disable notifications from coming through. With Do Not Disturb enabled, you can set various rules and schedules for your phone to follow, muting notifications for certain contacts, time periods, and more.T...

The Snapdragon 855 phone is currently $100 off, though.What you need to knowOnePlus has stopped listing the unlocked OnePlus 7T on its online U.S. store.Instead, the only version that's available now is the T-Mobile variant.It's unclear if the change is permanent or temporary.OnePlus' excellent 7T may not be the company's latest and greatest, but currently available at $499 for 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, all of it paired with a Snapdragon 855, it's definitely quite the steal. Unfortunately, however, the phone is no longer available to the majority of Americans at the moment, as the company has removed the unlocked variant of the phone from its online store.Instead, only the T-Moble version of the phone seems to be available on the company's online store. The silver lining? Available in both Froster Silver and Glacier Blue at just $499, the phone is $100 off its usual selling price.It's unclear at the moment whether the change is temporary — perhaps as a result of a stoc...

Holding off just a little while longer.What you need to knowNight City Wire is an upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 event of some kind.It was previously scheduled to take place on June 11, 2020. The event has been pushed back due to the protests taking place right now.Night City Wire is now set for June 25, 2020.While CD Projekt Red has previously announced that it was holding a Cyberpunk 2077 event called Night City Wire on June 11, fans will be waiting a little bit longer to see what's in store. CD Projekt Red announced today that the event is being pushed back to June 25 in light of the ongoing protests against police brutality and racial injustice.We decided to move Night City Wire to Jun 25th. We still look forward to sharing new information about CP’77, but more important discussions are happening right now and we want them to be heard. We wholeheartedly stand against racism, intolerance and violence. Black Lives Matter.— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) June 2, 2020C...

Board games have been going through a renaissance over the past decade, and it doesn't take a lot of digging in the Google Play Store to see that's the case on Android as well. If you're having trouble getting everybody together under one roof or just don't have any more shelf space for another box, pick up your Android phone or tablet to grab these board games.It should be noted that finding highly-rated board games on the Play Store is an uphill battle. Whether it's because new updates broke the UI, fundamental aspects didn't get ported over correctly, or the spirit of the original was lost in translation, many of the board games here barely pass my muster. However, there are a few gems.We've also included a couple of great apps to have on hand when you do get the gaming crew together. And when you're done here, be sure to check out the Best Games for Android!The gamesCarcassoneSea Battle 2RiskTicket to Ride SplendorWild Jack: Card GobangElder Sign: OmensGalaxy Tr...

Emergency alerts on your Android smartphone are a good thing — even if they are a bit annoying sometimes!Every so often — or frequently, depending on your tolerance level — you get an emergency alert on your phone. That horrible blaring of the emergency tone, the buzzing the vibration motor, and then the grim news. Someone's missing. Or there's a severe weather alert headed your way. Suddenly and without warning, your phone's scaring the hell out of you. It's bad enough during the day, and downright dreadful in the dead of night.And that's the idea.The U.S. carriers have worked with the federal government to come up with a way to push alerts to your Android smartphone to warn you about dangerous weather, missing persons or other matters of grave national importance. The point is they want you to see this information in hopes that it could save your life — or someone else's.Here's what you need to know about these emergency alerts and how you can control them on your A...

As Rebecca prepares for the release of Paper Mario, the crew chat about the 50+ indie games in the recent Wholesome Direct 2020. There's also more The Last of Us Part II gameplay to check out, and Christopher Nolan plans to stream a film in Fortnite this summer. Among many other digressions and diversions, there's a great side tangent about blind boxes and other collectibles.Hosted by: Jennifer Locke, Carli Velocci, and Rebecca SpearGot feedback? Hit up Podcast@androidcentral.com and tell us something!LISTEN NOW:LINKS:Fans are giving classic games like Sonic, Zelda, and Pokémon the Paper Mario makeover | iMoreAll 50+ Indie games shown during the Wholesome Direct 2020 | iMoreThe Last of Us Part II State of Play gameplay shows Ellie throwing down ropes, swimming and more | Android CentralChristopher Nolan to stream one of his films in Fortnite this summer | Android CentralArkane Studios' work on immersive sims shouldn't be lost next generation | Android Central...

Ever find yourself wishing you had more time to re-read your favorite books or check out new ones? Audible is the perfect solution as it allows you to start listening to books while you're busy doing other things this summer, from driving to work or doing the dishes to mowing the lawn and more. Now through June 15, Amazon has a special deal on Audible taking 46% off the first four months for new members. That brings the price down to just $7.95 per month from its regular cost of $14.99.With your Audible membership, you'll receive a credit each month which can be used towards any audiobook you want, such as the new book in The Hunger Games series, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Once you've used a credit to purchase an audiobook, it remains in your library to listen to forever — even when your subscription isn't active. You also have the option of returning any audiobooks after you've started listening to receive your credit back if you're unsatisfied with the purchase.Along...

Celebrities and influencers aren't the only ones dominating Instagram. Brands have the capability to rake in a considerable amount of followers, too. With Instagram being such a popular platform — 1 billion active users are no joke — it's fertile ground to amass customers for your business, but you can only do it if you know the right strategies to employ and the right content to share. The 10 Instagram Growth Secrets From Celebrities & Influencers Course can teach you how to do just that.Instructed by Benjamin Wilson, an educator whose passion lies in creating innovative marketing strategies across all platforms from Instagram to Facebook to even Amazon FBA, this course will fill you in on the tactics and strategies that are proven and tested to gain targeted followers, resulting in a boost in your business' revenue.Anyone who wants to leverage Instagram to grow their followers and business can benefit from this course. It will impart with you the secrets to raising your...

Oculus recently rolled out hand tracking support for the Oculus Quest. The feature allows you to navigate menus and even play some games with nothing but your hands. It's a new and exciting feature for the Oculus Quest, but it's still relatively limited in terms of which games you can play. While Oculus improved the feature after a year in preview, there are a few things you can do to help get the best hand tracking experience.Products used in this guideStandalone VR: Oculus Quest ($400 at Best Buy)Darkness my old friend: Mellons Unisex Winter Knit Classic Solid Color Gloves (black) ($7 at Amazon)Light it upThe Oculus Quest's hand tracking works with the headset's monochrome cameras. This is great because that means it doesn't require any external hardware. However, it also means that hand tracking on the Oculus Quest isn't as precise as dedicated VR gloves, at least for now. Oculus uses AI to make the experience better, but there's still some work to do.To get the best ...

These are solid additions we can all appreciate — but don't go far from a charger.Google's latest quarterly "Feature Drop" for its Pixel phones has arrived, and unlike most updates it actually hit my Pixel 4 XL right away. Now that I've had a little time to take in the changes, here's what I'm seeing and appreciating in the latest update. Every Pixel user should get familiar with the Personal Safety app.It makes sense to lead with the improvements to the Personal Safety app. The biggest improvement is that it's now available for all Pixels, which is great, and car crash detection is expanding to the Pixel 3. I would love to see the app made available to all phones (with a reasonably modern version of Android), even if it had to lose a couple of the hardware sensor-based features, but this is a good start.The new headline feature is "safety check," which lets you set an emergency alert to be sent out after a specific amount of time has passed — between 15 minutes and ...

Want to upgrade your Android experience? Try upgrading your launcher.The best launchersBest overall Smart Launcher 5Long-term Legacy Nova LauncherSwiss Army Launcher Action LauncherBest Productivity Microsoft LauncherPixel Perfected Lawnchair 2Quick and Simple Niagara LauncherThe way we arrange, organize, and interact with our apps on Android is called the launcher. Launchers usually consist of a series of home screens, where we can arrange app shortcuts and widgets and an app drawer. Every phone comes with a launcher, but when they drop the ball, there are endless third-party launchers that not only pick it up again but knock it clear out of the park. Everyone has their perfect launcher, but if you haven't found your favorite yet, then here are a few launchers we think will satisfy users of every type.Best Overall: Smart Launcher 5 AC Score 5 ...

I'm not sure how I feel about this new UI, but the remote looks good so long as the battery lasts.What you need to knowThe Android TV dongle we'd hoped would debut at Google I/O is shaping up to be quite the compelling device.XDA Developers obtained what appear to be official renders of the new Android TV dongle, its remote, and an updated Android TV UI.The dongle doesn't appear to be much bigger than the Chromecast Ultra, and the included remote appears to have a Favorites button to wuickly access your favorite apps.With the Chromecast Ultra being almost two years old now — wow, has it really been that long? — we're now about due for a new version from Google, and this generation's dongle has long been rumored to run Android TV and come with a dedicated remote so that it could better compete with the Amazon Fire TV and Roku. We were hoping — at least, I was hoping — to see this finally break cover at Google I/O alongside the Pixel 4a, but Google I/O was canceled an...

Some of the best Pro Skater games are making a comeback for current-gen consoles.After quite some time of rumors and speculation, remakes of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 were announced to the surprise of no one during the Summer Game Fest. They definitely look a lot prettier than their original counterparts from over twenty years ago, and that's because aimed for photo-realistic quality, using photogrammetry references for textures and assets within the environment and scanning the original skateboarders. Whether you're a new or returning fan, you're sure to find plenty to love here.Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2: GameplayTony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2: Remake changesTony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2: SoundtrackTony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2: Release dateFully remadeTony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2$40 at Best Buy$40 at MicrosoftThe birdman is coming backTony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 are being remade and coming to current-gen consoles. With these generally regarded as some of ...

Technology isn't perfect. The PlayStation Network goes down from time to time, preventing you from playing your favorite games, but sometimes the problem is on your end. When you need to troubleshoot your online connection to properly diagnose the problem as best as possible, you can do so through the PS4 settings or by unplugging a few cables (yes, the old "turn it off, turn it back on again" method).Products used in this guideConnect to your router: Cat 7 Ethernet Cable (From $10 at Amazon)Troubleshoot through PS4 settingsFrom the home screen, go to Settings.Scroll down to Network.Select Test Internet Connnection.From the next screen, you'll be able to see the status of your internet connection, PlayStation Network sign-in, NAT type, and connection speeds. If the problem you have is being unable to sign in to the PlayStation Network, it could be experiencing an outage. If your internet connection was unsuccessful, then you may want to try connecting it again.Connect...

The extended user manual for all things PlayStation 4But, like all devices, sometimes things go wrong and you need to troubleshoot a problem. So whether you've just bought your first PlayStation 4, or you just need a little help getting started, we're here for you. In this article, we're going to document all of the resources you will need to ensure that your PlayStation experience is the best it possibly can be. This includes explaining which upgrades work (both software & hardware), how to fix common or complex issues, and more.If you're looking for all the best products and accessories for your PlayStation 4, we have you covered.We've included links to each section in this guide so that you can easily find the specific pieces of information you may need regarding your PlayStation. Hopefully you'll find something that answers your questions.All about your current console updateGet started with your PlayStation 4Frequently asked questionsTroubleshootingCool things t...